Charles K. Wilson
El Paso Times
The water debate returned to City Council on Tuesday, playing to
another long day of doom-and-gloom predictions. Some predictions claimed
the city may not be able to meet peak spring demand, and others
expressed concerns that people would cheat to keep lawns green.
As in the first skirmish two weeks ago, each side took aim at the
other's claims, but this time the council approved Stage 2 water
restrictions designed to cut the city's water use by 25 percent.
Stage 2 restrictions will be in effect from April 1 to June 17.
Stage 2 will not cost residents anything extra -- the council
rejected a drought surch! arge -- but outdoor residential watering
except for those with drip-type systems will be limited to a maximum of
two hours a week, one day a week. The Stage 2 restrictions are designed
to cut outdoor watering in half, from 80 million gallons a day to 40
million gallons a day.
While El Paso Water Utilities General Manager Ed Archuleta won
approval of his "best" plan for avoiding peak-use water shortages this
spring, he did not convince everyone the plan would succeed.
"This is going to fail," said East Side Rep. Dan Power, who voted no
twice on the issue. "This isn't going to work without negative economic
consequences."
The final vote was 6-1. The first vote to approve passed 5-3, with
Reps. Rose Rodriguez and Anthony Cobos also voting no. After an
executive session, Cobos asked for a second vote and changed his vote to
"aye." Rodriguez did not return to chambers after the executive session.
Charles K. Wilson may be reached at
cwilson@elpasotimes.com
